Three fresh faces have been seen at the monthly board meetings of Mission Housing Development Corporation since late 2016.

The Board of Directors oversees the strategic direction, budget, guidelines and policies of Mission Housing. The addition of these people as board members comes at a turning point in the development of the organization. Expanding the board with needed expertise also fulfills a key goal of the Mission Housing Strategic Plan.

An architect, lawyers come aboard

Irving Gonzales is Principal of G7A, a San Francisco architecture firm. Gonzales has been on the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Chapter of American Institute of Architects. He has won multiple awards for affordable apartment designs.

Eddie Ahn is Executive Director of Brightline Defense, a public policy advocacy nonprofit committed to protecting and empowering vulnerable communities. Ahn is a nonprofit attorney who has served on San Francisco committees dedicated to social services and affordable housing.

Jon Layman is a partner with the firm Hogan Lovells US LLP. Layman has deep knowledge and insights on corporate and corporate governance matters, corporate finance and capital-raising transactions.

“Irving, Eddie, and Jon all have already had a great deal of influence on our work,” said Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing. “The track records of these professionals show a deep understanding of the affordable housing business, and a passion for our mission.”

There are still three vacancies remaining on the all-volunteer Mission Housing Board of Directors. Professionals with housing and community development experience are being sought.

Pete Gallegos and Toby Levine have reached the end of their terms on the Mission Housing board.

Levine, Gallegos, Wang reach end of terms

As these four join the board, three current members have reached the end of their terms, after many years of service.Pete Gallegos, a real estate professional and activist, has served on the Mission Housing board from 2006 to 2016. He was Board Chair from 2013 to 2016.

Toby Levine, a veteran San Francisco educator, planner and activist, has served on the Mission Housing board from 2006 to 2016.

Shirley Wang served on the Mission Housing board from 2007 to 2016.

Shirley Wang, an attorney specializing in employment law, has served on the Mission Housing board from 2007 to 2016. She was Vice Chair from 2011 to 2016.

Mission Housing board members are limited to serving as many as three 3-year terms.

“Pete, Toby and Shirley have made outstanding contributions to Mission Housing, and to San Francisco,” said Moss. “All will be Board Members Emeritus, and continue as our special advisors.”

San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, also known as SFHAC, convened the annual meeting of its general membership on January 11, 2017.

Among the items on the agenda: Electing new several new faces to the organization’s governing body, the Executive Committee. Among the new members confirmed to a two year term on the committee: Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing Development Corporation.

“Sam adds an important additional affordable housing perspective to the issues we tackle,” said Todd David, Executive Director of SFHAC. “Sam has Mission Housing doing exemplary work, and we look forward to his contributions to our Executive Committee.”

The Executive Committee meets nine times during the year. As the governing body of SFHAC, the group helps with fundraising, strategic plan implementation and building new relationships to help spread the SFHAC pro-housing message. Executive Committee members engage in the Project Review, Regulatory and Ballot Analysis committees of SFHAC.

Other Executive Committee responsibilities: guiding the SFHAC engagement in political campaigns and ballot initiatives, advising on SFHAC’s two annual big fundraising events and general advocacy. The Executive Committee also steers how the organization weighs-in on local, regional and state policies.

Now, as an at-large member of the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition Executive Committee, Moss will be active on the Regulatory and Ballot Analysis committees.

“SFHAC supports housing at all levels, so being elected to the Executive Committee is truly an honor,” said Moss. “I believe my background in affordable housing adds significant value to a typically more “market-rate” point-of-view. I want to make sure SFHAC advocates for affordable housing and community development, whenever possible.”

About San Francisco Housing Action Coalition

SFHAC is a membership nonprofit organization that advocates for the creation of well-designed housing for San Franciscans of all income levels. The SFHAC alliance of businesses, organizations and individuals facilitates collaboration on San Francisco housing issues. Members apply their expertise through work on three SFHAC committees: Regulatory, Project Review and Ballot Analysis. The Executive Committee of SFHAC sets policy for the organization.

SFHAC also sponsors many networking and informational events throughout the year. In 2016, Mission Housing co-hosted a SFHAC walking tour of the Mission District.